“It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.”
– Dale Carnegie
A positive outlook in life & finding happiness with a sense of humor and the ability to laugh in difficult situations can go a long way in keeping you healthy & improving your body’s immunity to illnesses.
Whether the act of laughing on its own makes you healthier or not is up for question. But, developing a sense of humor can certainly make life feel far more enjoyable and bright.
Looking at it scientifically, stress constricts our blood vessels affecting blood flow. It also affects our body’s immune system negatively. We as human beings are preprogrammed to experience a whole gamut of emotions. Making the choice to be able to laugh heartily every day may not be able to cure the effects of stress on our body, but it certainly can stop them from getting worse.
We all enjoy a good laugh, the company of happy people, and being in the presence of a can-do kind of attitude. Those are the kind of things that make us enjoy being alive. If finding happiness is on your list of priorities, then you certainly are on the right path to a healthy body, mind, & soul.
Finding happiness – 9 reasons it’s good for your mind, body, & soul:
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Finding happiness is good for your Body:
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1. Improved oxygenation and healthy heart:
Mental stress affects our heart health. It’s what all those scenes from old movies were trying to tell us. You know those ones where the moment an older guy starts getting all worked up over something, you go ‘yup, he’s going to have a heart attack.’ : )
When we laugh, we inhale more oxygen-rich air. Better oxygenation means healthier important organs of the body and so improved wellbeing.
Laughing out loud also relaxes our blood vessels enabling a better flow of blood to important organs like the heart and brain. It works on the inner lining of blood vessels keeping them relaxed and healthy.
Make a conscious effort everyday of finding happiness in your daily life or recreating moments of laughter through videos, comedy shows, jokes, or whatever tickles your funny bone.
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2. Finding happiness = Fun workout:
When we laugh heartily, our face & stomach muscles get a good workout. Remember how they hurt after a good laugh? Did you know, having a hearty laugh for 15 minutes can burn around 50 calories?
A good laugh raises the pulse and heart rate. Then it gradually relaxes our muscles. This spike-up and cooling down later is what helps us feel relaxed just like after a good workout.
Though not as effective as a 15-minute run, laughter exercises can step-in on a lazy day or add to your exercise routine.
“To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others.”
– Albert Camus
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3. Better immune response:
There are scientific studies going on to find the connection between happiness & improved immune status. One study even found that the presence of antibodies in our saliva that protects us from harmful things went up & down depending on whether a person was happy or not on any given day!
Finding happiness works on a cellular level to boost our immune system.
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Mind:
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1. Cope better with pain:
Did you know that looking at a bruise or a wound on your body through the wrong end of a binocular can reduce the sense of pain? This is true and it works because our brain gets tricked into thinking that the danger isn’t imminent.
That’s what happens when you consciously work on finding happiness when things seem to be otherwise falling apart around you. When you laugh, it distracts the brain with what’s more active than the throbbing or nagging pain – the reason behind your laughter! It does take away some of the bite from what’s bothering you and gives your brain time to process it properly.
When we laugh, it stimulates endorphin production in our body just like running or jogging. Endorphins will activate your body’s opiate receptors and act as a mild sedative. It creates a sense of euphoria like the runner’s high making you feel better. Happy feelings also reduce the experience of pain connected to a health problem.
Remember how it feels when someone makes you laugh after a really challenging day, or when your pet welcomes you home?
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2. Meditation & finding happiness:
Research studies have shown regular meditation to cause changes in parts of our brain that control mood & stress reaction. Basically, it means they find it easier to find joy & show compassion.
Whether through mindfulness activities or meditation, finding happiness can physiologically change your brain to be open for gratitude, positivity, & peace of mind.
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3. Quiet walks & mental health:
Quiet walks in nature have shown less activation of the part of our brain connected with brooding. That’s why we feel clearer in the head & happier after a lazy stroll in the park.
Rumination or worrying too much about something isn’t good for our peace of mind or mood. So, “I need some air” is actually our brain telling us it needs to be outside to physiologically take a break from overthinking.
“Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.”
– Carl Jung
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Finding happiness empowers your Soul:
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1. Better interpersonal connection:
Who would you rather spend your time with – a friend who’s always complaining or the one who has a good sense of humor and a can-do attitude?
We get pulled towards energy & positivity. When you are in a good mood & enjoying connecting with others, others catch your vibe & feel good being around you. It makes us feel good & appreciated. It’s like happiness generates more joyful moments.
People connect better in a lighter environment. Have you noticed how people become less guarded and more open to ideas when everybody is in an easy relaxed mood? We communicate better with others & are more open to listening to others’ points of view.
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2. Widens your view of the world:
Helping others in any way can make your heart glow with happiness. When you volunteer to help the less fortunate ones with either time money or effort, it makes you feel more gratitude towards things that you have. Simply even helping someone out makes us feel good, boosts our sense of worth & confidence.
Finding happiness by giving to others does widen how we look at the world, increases empathy, & adds a positive perspective to our own life.
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3. Holistic health:
Just like physical pain is our body’s mechanism to protect itself against damage, stress also rings the alarm bells when something is a bit too heavy for our mental or emotional health. Negative thoughts & negativity, in general, stresses us out.
Research studies have shown that negative thoughts cause chemical release in our body harmful to the immune system. Stress causes the level of blood-clotting protein to increase in our body.
So, finding happiness in what we have & in the little things in life is good not only for our mind but our body too. Good mental health can’t be ignored if we want to be truly healthy.
A positive attitude and a good sense of humor will help you get through a tough day much better. Having a good laugh will help release stress and change the momentum on a dull day.
“Learn to value yourself, which means: fight for your happiness.”
– Ayn Rand
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Make finding happiness a priority in your life. It’s not a luxury but a non-negotiable when it comes to your physical & mental wellbeing.
Ask yourself what truly makes you happy, what brings joy & light to your day. What makes you glow from within & generous towards everyone around you? What can you do to not wait for anyone to bring happiness to your life?
Then, make it happen as if it were for someone you loved the most.
Just remember that seeking happiness for yourself isn’t selfish. It’s something that’s essential for our quality of life & relationships.
Hope this article gave you some more reasons to keep that beautiful smile on your face. What’s the one thing even whose thought makes you smile? What do you do intentionally to add happiness to an otherwise tough day,
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Wow, this is a really uplifting and positive post. thanks so much
Glad you liked it 🙂
This is such good information!!
-Anna
Thanks Anna
I always feel so much better after a good laugh session, but still for some reason never prioritize it in my life.
Well, now you have quite a few health reasons to prioritize it 🙂